Penalties for Misrepresentation as a Veteran-Owned Business
Floor Speech
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Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Once again, I also rise in support of H.R. 1657. It is absolutely unconscionable that we would have folks taking the set-asides that we have made specifically available to our veterans as they return home to start small businesses. Again, it's certainly not a lottery they have won. It is this Nation's commitment to them to make sure they get on an equal footing and get going again; and anyone who is intentionally stealing those funds, it certainly should be a serious matter.
I applaud the gentleman from Indiana for continuing on this very bipartisan--in the last Congress, Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin and now-Senator Boozman took this up, started it moving, and it looks like you are going to get her across for us, Mr. Stutzman; and for that I am very happy.
I hope all my colleagues will join me in making sure we improve the protections for the veteran-owned enterprises and send a very clear signal that this is certainly fraud for those individuals who are engaging and taking those set-aside dollars because it is absolutely critical for our returning veterans.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, again I thank the chairman of the full committee, the chairmen of the subcommittees, Ranking Member Filner, and the subcommittee ranking members.
We put together four good bipartisan pieces of legislation to serve our veterans to make sure we strengthened the things that they have so rightfully earned, making the commitment of this Nation stronger to them. It's absolutely appropriate we do that as we move towards Memorial Day. And again, as I said when we began, Mr. Chairman, I think certainly one place where it's Memorial Day every year is in the committee, making sure we're fighting for those veterans, their families, getting it right. And I very much appreciate the sense of bipartisanship as we get that done.
Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.
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